Lizards running on hind legs?

Sailfin Lizard

Sailfin Lizard

Tree Lizard
Tree Lizard
Agama

Agama

Dragon

Dragon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lizards that are placed in the Agamidae family include: Agamas, dragons, tree lizards, sailfin lizards, and other agamids. According to “Animal world”, there are more than 300 species of Agamid lizards in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. They are able to change their colours, in order to regulate heat. On top of that, they have strong hind legs that allow them to run two-legged when threatened.

I first came across a video clip on the Australian Frilled lizard (frilled dragon), running away from threat, and was amazed at how lizards could actually run on their hind legs. It seems like a comedy.

Australian Frilled lizard on the run

When threatened, the Australian frilled lizard raise its hind legs up to run away from the threat. At the same time, it opens its yellow-coloured mouth which eventually encircles its head, and hisses. From the National Geographic article on “Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus Kingii”, it was stated that if the attacker were not to be threatened by its act, it would turn its tail, mouth and frill open, and begin running with its hind legs without stoppiong or looking back, till it reaches safety.

The Goniocephalus dilophus (Indonesian forest dragon) is another type of Agamid lizard. According to research, (JB Murphy 1978) when confronted by an intruder:

1) when most threatened, bipedal bounding or hopping flight with forelimbs rotated in a circumductory plane, moth closed

2) when less threatened, lateral presentation with open mouth, tongue rolled forward, gular sac expanded, sidlehopping and low intensity tail lashing

3) when least threatened, frontal orientation, short rushes toward the intruder with mouth open, bitting attempted.

From this, we can see that these lizards when threatened with fear of a different extent, behaves slightly differently. And when they are really afraid…. they even run in a “no turning back” manner with their hind legs.

 Citation:

“Threatening behavior in the Angle-Headed Dragon, Goniocephalus dilophus (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Agamidae)”, James B. Murphy, William E. Lamoreaux and Charles C. Carpenter , 1978

“Frilled lizard Chlamydosaurus Kingii”, National Geographics: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/reptiles/frilled-lizard/ (access on 6 April 2010)

“Lizards- Agamids”, Animal World, http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/lizards_agamids/Agamids.php (access on 6 April 2010)

“Frilled Lizard”, Falconrye, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rckm6mxPZIU